The number one reason March 13 will be the most wonderful day of the year!

Spoiler alert: It has to do with Daylight Savings Time!

March 2016 Tips (1)It’s finally here! The day every parent-of-an-incredibly-early-rising-baby-or-toddler dreams of! Daylight Savings Time begins on March 13, 2016!

If you’re wondering why that bleary eyed mom sitting in the cubicle next to you is throwing a mini-dance party, or the dad in the carpool lane beside you is rocking out extra hard to his commuter tunes this week, it’s because their little early-rising angels at home are about to sleep in an extra hour this weekend!

Unlike the dreaded end of Daylight Savings Time each autumn – when clocks “Fall Back” and many babies now start their days at 5am, or earlier! – the beginning of Daylight Savings Time means those children who normally rise before the sun may actually shift their schedules to wake at an hour that feels a little more human to us adults, at least temporarily!

Remember that most people require up to one full week to adjust to any time change, and children are no exception. Try not to expect too much from children as they are adjusting to the new time.

Try these tips to help with the transition:

  • For the first three days of the time adjustment, push naps and bedtime forward by 30 minutes. I.e. if your child normally naps at 12 p.m., push the nap to 12:30 p.m. for the first three days after the time change. If bedtime is normally at 7 pm, push it to 7:30 p.m.
  • After three days, return to the normal schedule.

And, if your little one’s early-rising habits return after that blessed Daylight Savings Time adjustment has ended, check out our top tips for ending early wakes!